Sidney Moorer released from jail after 2 months

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – Sidney Moorer was released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center Wednesday afternoon after being sentenced to jail for violating a gag order during his kidnapping trial in the case of missing woman Heather Elvis. He served two months of his five month sentence for good behavior and work credit.

When Moorer first exited the gate and asked if he had anything to say about getting out of jail, he said, "two words: malicious prosecution."

He said he thinks that has been the case since the day he got arrested.

On July 29, a judge sentenced Moorer to five months in jail for breaking the gag order by speaking to a local media outlet on the second day of trial. He was immediately incarcerated following that hearing.

Moorer said Wednesday he doesn't think there should be a gag order in the case.

In June, a mistrial was declared in Moorer's initial criminal trial.

Moorer said the mistrial has been tough on himself and his family.

Moorer said what he's looking for in a retrial is the truth and he said he didn't feel like the jury for his trial in June was fair and impartial.

Earlier this month, Judge Markley Dennis listened to the defense's arguments for, and the prosecution's arguments against, a change of venue for the retrial.

A decision has not yet been made on the request for change of venue.

Moorer said he thinks a change of venue to Georgetown County would help the impartiality of the jury.

He also said he missed his family when he was in jail the past two months.

"They want their dad back obviously," he said. "I've been gone for two months. We're a close family. That's just the way we are. They want me back."

When asked about the possibility of Moorer or his wife going away for longer than two months, he said he has talked about it with his family.

"Anything can happen. So we've talked about it," he said. "If everything goes the way it should, it shouldn't happen, but we've talked about it. You have to prepare for the worst."

Moorer also had a message for another family, the Elvises.

"They should push and ask for the truth," he said. "They should demand the truth. Not somebody going to jail. They should demand the truth. Period. I don't feel like that's where we're headed."

"Tammy and their children are glad to have Sidney back with them again," said Greg McCollum, the attorney representing Sidney Moorer's wife Tammy Moorer, who is also facing a kidnapping charge in the 2013 disappearance of Elvis.

Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson did not comment on Moorer's release because of the gag order.